Author: Andres-Papazian

HOME AND HOMELAND: THE JOURNEY TO ARMENIA
By Avo John Kambourian

ianyan magazine

Aug 13 2010

This is a first in the series called “Home and Homeland,” an
exploration into the Armenian Diaspora’s connection (or sometimes
lack thereof) with Armenia, repatriation, identity, culture and more.

What makes someone leave home, walk away from his or her life, friends,
family, work, school and become a traveler? Seven months ago, fresh
out of quitting art school and returning to community college, I saw
my future ahead of me: dark, bleak and distant. This future entailed
a transfer to a decent university and becoming what I believed to be
a normal person. Since I only needed one semester, endless months lay
ahead of me, with nothing to do except work and be bored of the same
thing; I knew I would never have to opportunity to take a chance as
I did then.

I chose to go to Armenia for four months, not just for fun, but
to finally see and taste the motherland from her roots. I remember
one of the big things going on before I left was the Armenia-Turkey
Protocol situation. I personally don’t side with anything unless I
know its true purpose, so I decided that I would keep my eyes open
while I was in Armenia.

After being there for a few weeks, living with a host family, making
new friends, and mingling with a lot of the everyman, I decided to
ask around. Of course I did run into much bias, as is relevant with
every Armenian cause, and a lot of opinions on Turkey rather than what
trading openly with Turkey can do for Armenia. I realized that there
is a huge difference between these thoughts and what could really
happen. We can really speculate all we want, but really what could
we predict? Absolutely nothing.

I suppose this argument is dead. The protocols subsided around the
big remembrance day of April 24th when the recently apathetic masses
in Armenia picked up the torches and started burning Turkish flags on
the march to the genocide memorial in Yerevan. As soon as I saw these
acts, I was immediately disgusted, enough to not even take part in
the march. Not to put myself on a high horse here, but what the hell
are we doing? What are these types of people in Armenia and around the
world thinking as they desecrate the flag of not just another country,
but Armenia’s neighbor! I’m sure this doesn’t sit well with anyone,
not only the Turks, hell, this even aggravates me.

Armenia through Avo’s lens/ © Avo John Kambourian

What is home? What is Homeland? Does home mean where your parents
live? Does homeland mean where your ancestors are from? If that’s the
case my home is in Turkey. Am I Turkish? Armenian? Ottoman? American?

What am I? I sat through countless arguments in Armenia about
the rightful return of our lands from the Turkish government. To
these people names are everything, aren’t they? For generations
and generations, people have moved around the world, from place
to place, from land mass to land mass, but a lot of that movement
has been forgotten. At one point we all settled, put our bags down,
and called a place home. Don’t get me wrong, I love being Armenian,
I love my heritage, the food, the music, the dancing, the weddings,
the language, and oh yes it would be so sweet to have a place to call
our homeland, but it’s much bigger than that.

Our homeland is in our hearts and our minds, but we have a place to
reference too: Armenia. If you really want to make a difference I
strongly urge you to look at that piece of land and shed some light
on it, because it needs you. Don’t make excuses and whine about the
pain and suffering our people went through, those pains have long
subsided and passed.

Let’s be realistic. Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) needs us; Gyumri,
Spitak, and Javakhk need us. You can export and import all the goods
and supplies to and from Armenia you want, but the greatest source
of import for Armenia is its Diaspora’s influence.

“Tatik yev Papik” or “We Are Our Mountains” in Stepanakert,
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic./© Avo John Kambourian Armenia herself also
has a lot to give, a lot more than anyone could possibly imagine.

Different people are inspired in different ways- the artist might
bring back techniques, the businessman could bring home income from
his ventures, and the traveler such as myself brought back mental
development and concentration on my efforts back home.

Armenia helped me focus on what I wanted for my life. I met new
people, built new habits, and eliminated a few rotten ones. But I
learned, most of all, that life doesn’t begin at any certain point,
it continues constantly, and it is indeed what you make of it.

Armenia will always be with me in my dreams. Whether I realize it or
not, it’s a part of me.

From: A. Papazian

NEW STANDARDS FOR HOLOCAUST, GENOCIDE STUDIES IN TX HIGH SCHOOLS
By LESLIE CONTRERAS

Jewish Herald-Voice

Aug 13 2010

The Texas Education Agency has set new state standards for Texas
social studies and history classes that include the teaching of the
Holocaust and other genocides in the Texas Essential Knowledge and
Skills criterion.

The new standards, which are now mandatory for the first time, were
proposed and created by the effort of the recently formed Texas
Holocaust and Genocide Commission, with help from Holocaust Museum
Houston and the Houston Independent School District. The standards
went into effect in June.

The curriculum for high school social studies classes now includes
education of topics including the teaching of the Holocaust, the
liberation of concentration camps, and mass murders in Cambodia,
China, Latin America and the Soviet Union. Other topics that are now
mandatory in the curriculum criterion are identifying examples of
genocide, including the genocide in Armenia, the Balkans and Rwanda.

Social studies classes that these new standards will affect include
U.S. history studies since 1877, world history and world geography.

The commission presented testimony on all proposed changes to
TEKS, including rationale for why the changes should be made by the
TEA. One of the key points was emphasizing the need for the stories
of liberators and rescuers.

~SWhat we want to create in these young minds are positive role
models that they can aspire to, so they will not be bystanders,~T said
Pete Berkowitz, commission chairman. ~SIt~Rs really important that
(students) take individual responsibility for the collective actions
of society.~T

The commission has hired educational vendors, including Holocaust
Museum Houston, to teach one-day workshops to educators throughout
Texas so that they can learn the new curriculum content and begin
teaching it immediately.

Over the next year, all 20 TEA regions will have at least one workshop
to cover Holocaust and genocide topics, said Berkowitz. There will
be 13 total educator workshops taught in Houston, he said.

At a recent workshop in Midland, Texas, which the education department
of Holocaust Museum Houston conducted, educators learned the eight
stages of genocide. Prof. Gregory H. Stanton, founder and creator of
Genocide Watch, created the definitions of the genocidal process.

According to the definition, the first stage is classification, in
which ~Sdifferent categories of people are treated differently.~T Next,
society uses symbols to identify those differences or classifications.

Classification and symbolization become steps towards genocide when
these elements are combined with dehumanization, or denial of the
humanity of other people.

The next steps in genocide are organization, such as through militias
or hate groups, as well as polarization and preparation to kill certain
people. The most violent stage of genocide is the extermination itself,
followed by denial.

Joyce Baumann, a reading and language arts teacher for seventh and
eighth grades at Coahoma Junior High, said the workshop in Midland
was ~Svery informative.~T

~SI learned how to use novels and other information that can spark
my students~R interest and get them to thinking about how people are
treated around the world,~T she said. ~SThere are still people being
mistreated by their government or by other ethnic groups. It~Rs real
~E it~Rs not just a story.~T

Baumann said although she knew much of the information presented,
the workshop allowed her a fresh perspective on how to get students
engaged with the material.

~SIt got me thinking a lot about intolerance,~T she said. ~SI would
like to get my students thinking a little bit more~T about treating
others with respect and fairness, she added.

Kathryn Ann Crozier, a sixth-grade teacher in Monahans, Texas, at
Sudderth Elementary, also attended the one-day workshop.

~SIt opened my eyes to other forms of genocide that I did not
know existed and exists still today,~T Crozier said. ~SI find
it unbelievable that I graduated in 1995 and did not learn about
the Holocaust, Hilter or genocide until I was in college,~T she
added. ~SThe workshop introduced me to more information and resources
that I can give my students.~T

This new curriculum is dedicated to Holocaust survivors Siegi Izakson
and Mady Deutsch, said Holocaust Museum Houston Executive Director
Susan Myers. ~S[Izakson and Deutsch] made it a point to always
emphasize the importance ~E of Holocaust education being able to
continue long past their lives,~T Myers said.

~SIt has been my goal since 2002 to see a commission for the state of
Texas that can work as the umbrella for Holocaust education and museums
to ensure the voice of the victims and survivors are heard,~T she said.

The commission, which was started by the impetus of Holocaust Museum
Houston, was established in June 2009 when Gov. Rick Perry signed
Senate Bill 482.

The commission~Rs main purpose is to provide resources to the public
regarding the Holocaust and other genocides, including implementing
Holocaust awareness programs and exhibits, memorializing the
Holocaust, compiling a list of volunteers who have useful knowledge,
and soliciting and accepting gifts from public and private sources.

In addition to looking at how to create awareness of the Holocaust
in grades K-12, the commission also is working with universities to
create an accredited ethics-based studies course that would be taught
at all Texas universities. The commission is currently working with
the University of Houston to create such a course.

Holocaust survivor and doctor Anna Steinberger, who serves on the
commission along with Berkowitz and 16 other members, said that it
is important that people learn about genocides in order to prevent
possible future occurrences.

She said that it~Rs ~Simportant that teachers, as well as their
students, learn more about these events because after the Holocaust
the motto was ~Qnever again.~R Unfortunately, ~Qnever again~R keeps
happening.~T

The commission~Rs next step in affecting high school education is
making sure that the textbooks reflect the new TEKS requirements.
During the next two years, the TEA, along with the help of a special
task force on the commission, will ensure that the new textbooks will
incorporate information on genocides and the Holocaust.

The reason why changing the textbooks is particularly important,
Berkowitz added, is because they are only changed every 10 years.

~STexas is the largest purchaser of textbooks in the nation,~T said
Berkowitz. ~SBecause Texas is the largest ~E the other states will
follow suit.~T

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN’S RULING PARTY CONSIDERS TURKISH PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO COUNTRY AS IMPORTANT EVENT IN TERMS OF MUTUAL RELATIONS DEVELOPMENT
K. Zarbaliyeva

Trend News Agency
Aug 13 2010
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan’s ruling party considers the Turkish President’s visit
to the country as an important event, and notes that this visit
has special significance for the development of relations between
the countries.

“Azerbaijan and Turkey are strategic partners and allies. Both
countries’ interests are so close that each state always focuses on
the interests of the other side,” New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) Deputy
Executive Secretary, MP Mubariz Gurbanli said in an interview to the
official website of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), commenting
on the significance of the Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s upcoming
visit to Azerbaijan.

According to Gurbanli, in connection with recent events it once again
became evident that Turkey and Azerbaijan are making joint efforts
to achieve peace and stability in this region.

He said the Turkish state’s delicate attitude towards the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem, which occurred as a result of the Armenian
aggression against Azerbaijan, is very important for Azerbaijan. No
changes are observed in Turkey’s position on this issue.

“Since the occupation of Kelbajar by Armenia in 1993 Turkey severed
diplomatic relations with this country-occupier. Once again I want
to note that Turkey has always spoke in support of Azerbaijan in
this issue. And despite the West’s pressure regarding the opening of
borders, Turkey has stated that the borders will not be open until
Armenia ends its occupation policy,” Gurbanli said.

According to him, the heads of states, officials of Turkey and
Azerbaijan always make reciprocal visits.

“Naturally, in addition to all this, there is a need for regular
meetings of Azerbaijan and Turkey’s heads for the further development
of our relations, for discussion of the situation in the region, in
the international arena and other issues. President Abdullah Gul’s
upcoming visit to Azerbaijan arises from a need to discuss current
issues at the level of the two brotherly countries’ presidents. The
Turkish-Azerbaijani relations, cooperation in economic, political
and other spheres will be discussed during the visit,” Gurbanli said.

President Gul will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan August 16-17.

From: A. Papazian

TIGRAN KARAPETYAN ABOUT COMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Aysor
Aug 13 2010
Armenia

People’s Party leader Tigran Karapetyan spoke about the coming Armenian
parliamentary elections at a news conference.

According to him, “RPA will surely gain seats in parliament, Heritage,
HAK are financed from abroad, the latter has become more active
lately.” Karapetyan said he does not think special elections will
take place in Armenia.

When speaking about People’s Party Karapetyan said his party will
gain seats in parliament if the elections are not rigged.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN ANALYST PROMOTES AGGRESSIVE POLITICS

The Messenger

Aug 13 2010
Georgia

Grant Melik-Shahnazarian, analyst from Mitki thinks that if military
clashes start in Karabakh and last for some time the results for
both countries, Armenia and Azerbaijan will be grave and the region
will become an arena for a NATO-Russia confrontation. He also thinks
that if a military confrontation occurs there will be huge financial,
technical and above all human losses. The analyst considers that now,
the concept of the security zone has lost its meaning as both sides
today possess the technical means to hit a target from a distance
of up to 200-300 km and both sides can afford it. The analyst also
believes that if the conflict resumes then Armenia should lead the
attack and not simply follow defensive tactics.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN COMPETE TO BUY GEORGIAN GAS PIPELINE.

The Messenger
Aug 13 2010
Georgia

Serious competition has begun over the issue as to who will buy the
south-north gas pipeline connecting Russia and Armenia and passing
through Georgia. The Georgian government has recently put this
strategic asset up for sale. Different sources claim there is a 99%
chance that the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR will purchase the
asset; Yerevan is totally against this option. Another possibility
is that it will be bought by Russia’s Gazprom – this has caused
concern for the Georgians as well as the Azeris. There is also a third
possible player – Kazakhstan’s Kazmunaigaz, although some think that
the Kazakhstanis will protect Russian interests. The Turkish newspaper
Hurriyet reports that the issue was decided between the heads of states
during the recent visit of President Ilham Aliyev to his counterpart
Mikheil Saakashvili. However the newspaper thinks that although from
economic point of view the gas pipeline is not a profitable venture,
Aliyev is straightforward and wants to keep the oil pipeline under
his country’s control. The newspaper is of the opinion that this
energy source for Armenia will end up in Baku’s possession. David
Shahnazarian, representative of the opposition national congress of
Armenia airing the concern of Armenian side, stated that the Azeris’
intention to buy this pipeline does not follow any economic interest
but is purely politically motivated. According to Shahnazarian,
Baku’s interest in the pipeline is motivated by the intention to
further deepen the energy blockade of Armenia. This could change the
situation in favour of Azerbaijan particularly now when it has ruled
out launching a military attack on Karabakh. He insists that under
these circumstances Armenia’s government is obliged to take every
possible measure to purchase the pipeline. Meanwhile Georgia thinks
that selling this installation is not against its strategic interest
and greedily anticipates big money coming into the coffers.

From: A. Papazian

BEATING COMPLACENCY ‘WILL SEE IRISH CRUISE TO VICTORY IN ARMENIA’
By Aidan Fitzmaurice

Herald

Aug 13 2010
Ireland

COMPLACENCY is the only obstacle to Ireland kicking off their Euro
2012 qualifying campaign with a win in Armenia next month.

That’s the view of Gerry Murphy, Giovanni Trapattoni’s scout who
travelled to Yerevan to spy on the Armenians in their midweek friendly,
a disappointing 3-1 defeat for the minnows at home to Iran in their
last warm-up game before the qualifiers start.

The Dublin-born coach, a former boss of Huddersfield Town who has been
added to the FAI’s scouting roster, insisted Ireland have nothing to
fear in Yerevan if they take the right approach to the game.

When the fixture list for the 2012 campaign was drawn up, some Irish
fans with long memories groaned with the news that the team would
kick off the campaign in one of the former states of the USSR.

As we all know, Ireland’s away record in qualifying matches is poor,
but Irish form in places formerly behind the Iron Curtain is worse
again: since the Jack Charlton era, we have played 14 qualifiers
in countries from the old eastern bloc, winning just three times
(in Estonia and Lithuania under Mick McCarthy and in Georgia under
Brian Kerr), though there was another ‘away’ win under Trap but that
win over Georgia was played in a neutral ground in Germany.

So a trip to Yerevan — where Armenia beat Belgium and narrowly lost
to Spain in the World Cup qualifiers — is not ideal from an Irish
perspective, but Murphy believes that we have nothing to fear.

“Armenia are very beatable, they are not all that strong at the back
and this is a game that Ireland can win — but only if they go at
it in the right way and apply themselves correctly,” Murphy told the
Herald after his return from Armenia last night.

“Like any side in international football, Armenia are capable of
anything on their day if they play well and have a bit of luck,
but from what I saw of them on Wednesday night, Ireland have nothing
to fear.

“The only danger for Ireland is that the players go into this game
in a complacent frame of mind because they think they are better than
Armenia, if they have that attitude it could be costly.

“But I think Mr Trapattoni will have them well drilled and prepared,
and if Ireland play to their strengths and go to Yerevan with the
right attitude they will come home with the three points,” added
Murphy, a Dublin native who has just been recruited to the senior
team’s scout network by Don Givens.

“Ireland can get at them at the back. To me, Armenia were sold in
midfield, they have some good players and they are no mugs, but their
weakness is at the back — as we saw on Wednesday when Iran scored
three times.

“From what I saw of Armenia against Iran, they are disciplined and
keep their shape well but their ball retention was poor, there was
a nervousness in their play at times and they just couldn’t keep
the ball.

“Armenia went 1-0 up but you could see that Iran were the better side
and, sure enough, Iran scored three after that.

“Armenia played a 4-4-1-1 formation and Aghvan Lazarian was very
sharp, but they lost a bit of shape early on.

“Their two central midfielders were nice players, very creative and
eager to get on the ball. The two wide players did OK in the game,
but their big weakness was at the back.”

Irish experience of Armenian football is only fleeting — our U21 side
played them in the current European Championship campaign but Armenia
won both games, and Derry City lost 2-0 in a Champions League tie to
Pyunik Yerevan three years ago, so the September 3 trip is one into
the unknown.

But the FAI’s man on the ground this week said that the Irish players
and supporters will be welcomed with open arms.

“The hotels are fine, the city is fine and I’m sure the supporters
will have a good time there,” said Murphy. “I talked to a few locals
when I was out there and they are excited about Ireland coming to
town, they had Spain there for the World Cup qualifiers and they know
about the English Premier League so they’re keen to see players like
(Damien) Duff, (Shay) Given and (Robbie) Keane.

“The travel might be a concern as it’s a five-hour flight from the
UK and six hours from Dublin so that’s not ideal, but the players
will have to deal with these things.

“There was a small crowd for this week’s game, as Armenia played Iran
in the Hrazdan Stadium because their U21s were playing another match,
against Georgia, in the Hanrapetakan Stadium — and that’s where the
Ireland match will be next month.

“The heat could be a small factor in Armenia’s favour. The game the
other night was played at 9pm local time and it was still quite warm
when the match started, though it did cool down, but the Irish match
is at 8pm so that’s something to bear in mind.”

From: A. Papazian

KURDS, YEZIDIS IN ARMENIA AND TURKEY DEBATE IDENTITY

Hurriyet Daily News
Aug 13 2010
Turkey

In a battle over political identity, Kurds and Yezidis in Armenia
have become engaged in a discursive debate over the two groups’
relationship to each other. Some Kurds argue Yezidizm is a religion
and that Yezidis are a branch of the Kurds; some Yezidis agree with
this definition, but others claim they form a different nation. The
chief editors of Kurdish and Yezidi newspapers in Armenia, as well
as a Yezidi in Turkey evaluated the situation for the Daily News

Hurriyet photo

In a debate over taxonomy largely rooted in identity politics between
state and society, Kurds and Yezidis in Armenia are increasingly
struggling over definitions of their communal boundaries.

There are many Kurds in the country where religious Yezidism is
practiced and where Yezidis are a Kurdish people. While many Yezidis
tolerate this situation, others do not, arguing the Yezidis constitute
a people separate from the Kurds.

Complicating the debate, the Yezidi community in Turkey, which numbers
about 400, define themselves as Kurds.

“If you ask me what my religion is, I would tell you that I am a Yezidi
but I am Kurdish,” said GriÅ~_ae Meme-Chatoian, chief editor of the
Kurdish-language R’ya T’eze newspaper, which has been published in
Yerevan since 1930.

Yezidism, moreover, is the oldest religious belief for Kurds,
according the Meme-Chatoian, who added that the notion of separate
Kurdish and Yezidi communities stemmed from USSR-era policies that
sought to create a conflict between the two groups.

Yezidi is the most common term applied to the community in English,
although members of the group refer to themselves as “Ezidi” in Kurdish
since they believe Yezidi or “Yazidi” carries with it pejorative
notions of devil-worship.

“Unlike the Kurds in Turkey, we are living in extremely comfortable
conditions in Armenia,” he said. “Our only problem is the separation
on the matter of Kurds and Yezidis. Armenian historians have a great
responsibility in [discussing] this.”

‘Yezidis are separate people’

Kheder Hajoian, chief editor for the monthly Yezidixhana, which is
published in a dialect of Kurdish used by Yezidis, disagreed with
Meme-Chatoian, saying Yezidis constitute a separate people.

“The Kurds are trying to assimilate us. Yezidism is not a religion;
it is a nation,” he said.

“The reason Kurds are making noise wherever they are is them wanting
a country [for themselves] – that is the whole reason,” he said. “They
want to make their population look larger that it is. They are trying
to claim Yezidism because they do not have a history or culture,
but it is a futile attempt.”

According to an Armenian population census from Feb. 21, 2001, the
country is home to roughly 40,000 Yezidis and approximately 1,500
Kurds. Together, the two groups generally live in 25 villages or in
the country’s major population centers.

‘Yezidis in Turkey perceive themselves as Kurds’

Journalist Eyup Burc, a Yezidi from a large clan centered in a village
in the ViranÅ~_ehir district of the Southeast Anatolian province of
Å~^anlıurfa, with members in Armenia as well, said he was following
the debates in Armenia closely.

Agreeing with Meme-Chatoian, he blamed Armenia for the debate over
communal boundaries.

“The concept of a Yezidi nation was brought forward to divide the
Kurds. That is why a great conflict is being experienced,” he said.

Yezidism is among the oldest belief systems of the Kurds, he said,
adding that most of the Kurds who believe Yezidism is a religion
reside in Iraq, where a similar discussion over self-definitions of
identity were also occurring in Mosul.

“Yezidis are considered Arab in population records. The basic goal
here is to portray the population of the Kurds as being as low as
possible,” Burc said.

‘I did not believe in the Kurdish initiative’

Meme-Chatoian said he is closely following the developments on Kurds
in Turkey, but added that he never believed in the Kurdish initiative
brought to the agenda last year by the ruling Justice and Development
Party, or AKP. Moreover, he said, broadcasting by TRT Å~^eÅ~_, the
state-owned Kurdish-language TV channel was insufficient.

Instead, many Kurds living in eastern Turkey listen to Kurdish radio
coming from Armenia, Meme-Chatoian said.

From: A. Papazian

VANDALISM, BUT NO HATE CRIME CHARGE IN ATTACK ON ARMENIAN CHURCH

Los Angeles Times
Aug 13 2010

A man who allegedly used a sledgehammer to smash a religious monument
outside St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church faces felony vandalism
charges — but not hate crime charges.

Victor Petrescu appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court in
Glendale to answer to a list of charges that included felony vandalism
of religious property. It included an enhancement charge for damage
exceeding more than $50,000 – a misdemeanor count of possessing a
sledgehammer with the intent to commit vandalism and graffiti, and
having a suspended and revoked driver’s license, Glendale Police Sgt.

Tom Lorenz said.

He pleaded not guilty.

Petrescu remained in custody in lieu of $160,000 bail.

Glendale police had presented the case as a possible hate crime, but
a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office
said prosecutors settled with the felony vandalism charges.

“After reviewing the evidence, we felt that these were the appropriate
charges,” spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales said.

If additional evidence is presented in the future, prosecutors may
reevaluate the charges, she added.

Glendale Police Chief Ron De Pompa said that if investigators uncovered
additional evidence of a hate-motivated crime, “we will absolutely
be requesting the district attorney to file those charges and amend
appropriately.”

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH PM’S APPROVAL AWAITED TO INVESTIGATE MIT ON DINK MURDER

Hurriyet Daily News

Aug 13 2010
Turkey

This file photo shows a protest during the trial concerning the murder
of Hrant Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian origin. DHA photo

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has sent a request
to the Prime Ministry to investigate the National Intelligence
Organization, or MÄ°T, to determine whether they neglected to prevent
the assassination of journalist Hrant Dink. The request is likely to be
denied. Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian origin and the former
editor-in-chief of weekly Agos, was gunned down in broad daylight on
Jan. 19, 2007, in front of the offices of his bilingual publication.

The Prime Ministry sent a request to MÄ°T, which answered: “We do not
have data or documents on the Dink murder.” The point that there have
been no documents on the murder forwarded to MÄ°T from other security
units was deliberately underlined in MÄ°T’s reply, and the ministry
was sympathetic to not allowing MÄ°T to be questioned. The ministry’s
response is currently on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s desk
waiting to be signed before being sent to the prosecution. Any legal
investigation of MÄ°T or its employees regarding actions done in the
line of duty needs approval from the Prime Ministry.

The Dink murder case has been repeatedly criticized by the family’s
defense team over suspicions that the superiors of the triggermen
are being protected. Dink’s defense team also argues that MÄ°T, the
police and the gendarmerie all knew Dink was going to be assassinated,
but took no action. The Investigation Committee of the Prime Ministry
has determined that Ramazan Akyurek, former chief of police in Trabzon
province, demonstrated negligence in failing to prevent the murder.

The evidence of negligence was offered as “not bringing the
intelligence reports by Yasin Hayal finding that Hrant Dink was
going to be murdered to the provincial security meetings headed
by the governor.” Akyurek was later assigned to the head of police
intelligence and he was found to have hidden intelligence reports
regarding the assassinations planning.

Dink was called to the Istanbul Governor’s Office in 2004, where
two MİT operatives warned him that reporting that Sabiha Göcmen,
the first female Turkish pilot, was Armenian could cause him trouble.

Nedim Å~^ener is the author of “Hrant Dink Cinayeti ve Ä°stihbarat
Yalanları” (“The Hrant Dink Murder and Intelligence Lies”). He
faced trial for “making targets of civil servants,” “obtaining
secret documents” and “exposing secret documents” in his book but was
acquitted in June. Å~^ener won the Abdi Ä°pekci Journalism Award of
the Year in 2010 for his reporting of the Dink assassination.

From: A. Papazian